Apparatus for and method of treating fluids



March 13, 1928.

J. P. BALL APPARATUS 'FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING FLUIDS Filed June 9, 1927 flu/6222 073 Patented Mar. 13', 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN :2. BALL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

I APrARArUs ron AND METHOD or TREATING mums.-

Application filed June 9,

My invention relates to an improved meth od of treating fluids containing suspended matter, as for example sewage with its suspended bacteria and solids; the invention involving means for carrying out said method of treatment and separation.

The invention, as well as its objects and advantages, will be readilly comprehended from the detailed description of the accom-' indicated at 12, attached in any suitablemanner to the shaft 11, as by the strap or band 13.

\Vi'th the weight 12 mounted in the manner shown, the shaft 11 willbe somewhat out of. balance with the result, that operation or rotation of shaft 11 at high speed, will produce an increased amount of vibration.

It is obvious that the manner of securing the weight to the shaft may be effected in any suitable manner; or the manner of setv ting up excessive vibrations in the rotating shaft may be differently produced.

The motor is shown mounted on a suitable closed receptacle or vessel 14 of any desired cross-sectional configuration, into which the depending rod 15 extends. The rod 15 is secured to the casing of the motor and may be in the nature of an encircling band preferably snugly fitting about the motor-casing so as to have all of the vibrations set up in the casing transmittedthereto.

The lower end of rod 15 is shown ramified to provide a plurality of arms or extensions 16, 17, which in turn preferably terminate in the enlarged or laterally disposed portions 18, 19.

The outer vessel 14 is intended to be of a size to properly contain a pair of smaller closed receptacles and 21, mounted in any suitable manner intermediate of the top and 1927. Serial no. 197,648.

bottom of the outer receptacle 14, so as to. provide a precipitation receiving chamber beneath said inner receptacles 20 and 21.

The depending ends of the arms of extensions 16, 17 are disposed, respectively, through suitable openings in the tops of the inner receptacles 20 and 21.

The crude liquid or fluid matter to be treated is initially introduced into rece tacle 20 by means of pipe 22 which may e provided with a suitable valve" as at 23- for controlling inflow; the introducing pipe 22 extending through the wall of vessel '14 and into the upper part of the inner receptacle 20. The liquid is then subjected to the more or less excessive vibrations induced by the unbalanced rotating shaft of the motor and transmitted thereto by the depending arm 16 with its enlarged or laterally disposed portion 18. This will induce a precipitation of the suspended solids and suspended bacteria; the supernatant liquid being withdrawn from receptacle- 20 by means of a suitable draw-off pipe 24, which is also preferably provided with a sui able valve.

The precipitated matter with portions of the fluid or liquid in the bottom of the vessel are drawn off and transmitted into the second interior vessel 21 b means of a conduit or pipe 25. The liquid introduced into the receptacle 21 will again be subjected to the vibrations transmitted thereto by arm 17 which preferably is of somewhat longer form and extends into proximity to the bottom of receptacle 21; the bottom of receptacle 21 being in the nature of a fine mesh screen 26. The vibration producing arm 17 will induce a rapid precipitation of any re cipitant or solid matter carried by the uid introduced by the receptacle 21; the liquid being caused to percolate through the screen bottom 26 into the outer vessel 14; while the sludge or precipitate is withdrawn from receptacle 21 by means of the outlet pipe 27 which may be provided with a suitable valve as at 28. The percolated treated liquid may be drawn oil from vessel 14 through suitable outlet pipe 29 preferably provided. with a suitable valve as at 30.

Subjecting a fluid or liquid carrying suspended matter to vibrations produced-by a igh speed rotating member or shaft causes a rapid precipitation and thus permits the decanting or drawing off of the supernatant fluid in a comparatively brief space of time 110 after operations have begun; the method eliminating the use of elaborate series of receptacles as well as the saving of time in carrying on the operation.

For urposes of exemplification, I have conventionally illustrated a well known type of electric motor at 10 provided with the feed line or wire as shown for example at 31, but it will be understood that any motor adapted to produce high speed rotation of its shaft, with the shaft placed out of balance, may be employed and other modifications and refinements of the apparatus disclosed in the drawing may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention. a

What I claim is: w 1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a vessel provided with a controllable outlet adjacentto the bottom thereof, a pair of receptacles mounted within said vessel in spaced relation with the bottom thereof, one of said receptacles having a fluid introducing conduit adjacent to its top and connected with the second receptacle by a conduit adjacent to the bottom thereof, said second receptacle being provided with a foraminatcd bottom, a high speed rotating element mounted on said vessel, means for placing said high speed rotating element out of balance to induce vibration, and means intermediate of said high speed rotating element and said receptacles whereby the liquid therein is subjected to the vibration set upin said unbalanced high speed rotating element. p

2.- Apparatus of the character described comprisin an outer vessel provided with a controllab e outlet at bottom, a pair of receptacles mounted in the outer vessel in spaced relation with the bottom thereof, a conduit leading into one of said receptacles for introducing the fluid to be treated, a conduit for connecting the pair of receptacles adjacent the bottoms thereof, the second of said pair of receptacles being provided with a foraminated bottom while the first mentioned receptacle of said pair is provided with a controllable outlet for drawing off the supernatant fluid, an electric motor mounted on said outer vessel, means whereb the armature shaft of said motor is p aced out of balance, and vibration transmitting means secured to said motor and extending into each of said pair of receptacles.

JOHN P. BALL. 

